Northern Wei Dynasty

• Dates: 386-534

The Northern Wei Dynasty of Chinese history was ruled by the Tuoba, a nomadic people from the Mongolian steppes. The rulers of the Northern Wei were among the first, and most prominent, to adopt Buddhism and contribute to its spread in China.

The rulers of the Northern Wei are said to have been particularly fond of the concept of chakravartin (the righteous king who turns the wheel of the Dharma), comparing themselves favorably to the great Buddhist king Ashoka, who ruled in India in the 3rd century BCE.

References

• Bonnie Smith et al. Crossroads and Cultures, vol. B, Bedford/St. Martins, 2012. p313.